T-post



R. J. MOTHS July 28, 1942.

T-POST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June '14, 1941 INVEN'IJOR. Mona/ 177M645 I y? M R. J. MOTHS July 28, 1942.

Filed June 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE T-POST Raymond J. Moths, Shorewood, Wis. Application June 14, 1941, Serial No. 398,153

7 Claims.

Thi invention relates to T-posts and more particularly to T-posts which may be used either individually as T-posts or which maybe interconnected to form a ledger to support a concrete slab.

One object of the present invention is to provide a steel T-post which may be varied in height as desired to suit various requirements.

Another object is to provide a T-post which can be combined readily with other similar T-posts to form a continuous ledger capable of supporting one end of a concrete slab form.

A further object is to provide a T-post Which will be strong and rigid in use.

A further object is to provide a T-post which may be connected readily to other similar T-posts to maintain the posts in the desired position.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrate one form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a single T-post embodying the invention, parts thereof being broken away to show more clearly certain other parts;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the T-post shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of two T-posts connected together and suitably braced to form a ledger;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section through the foot of the T-post shown in Fig. 1 illustrating.

the construction of the footing jack;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of two standard T-posts combined with a spacer T-post and suitably braced to form a ledger;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a plurality of T-posts being used to support a concrete beam; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the T-post comprises a tubular vertical post I0, preferably of steel, having a horizontal crossbeam l2 connected at the center thereof to the top of the post ID, with diagonal vincula of the beam and T-posts I3|3 joining the post H] with the crossbeam I2.

The crossbeam l 2 is preferably tubular in form and is provided with a tubular coupling pin 15 formed integrally within and projecting out of one end of the crossbeam. The coupling pin 15 is crossbeam and to be secured therein by a dowel l! which passes through both the crossbeam l2 and the pin l5. By securing a plurality of crossbeams together a ledger is formed, as shown in Fig. 3, which is adapted to support floor forms or the like.

The post ID has a tubular extension slidable therein and securable in fixed position by a dowel pin 22. The dowel pin 22 passes through either holes 23 or 24 in the post, which are spaced preferably about six inches apart, and through one of the holes25 in the extension 25. The holes 25 are spaced at double the spacing of the holes 23 and 24 so that adjustment to the nearest six inches may be had by positioning the dowel pin through the proper hole 23 or 24.

An adjusting jack 28 (Fig. 4) is fixed in the lower end of the extension 20 to make adjustments of smaller heights than given by the dowel pin 22. The jack is composed of an adjusting screw 30 which operates in a nut 3| fixed in the lower end of the extension 2!]. A pair of guides 3232 pass through the free upper end of the screw 30 and are fixed therein. The guides contact the inner surface of the extension and center the upper end of the screw, thus always maintaining the screw co-axial with the extension.

The lower end of the screw has a collar 34 formed thereon, which fits in a bearing 35 in a base plate 36. A handle 38 is formed on the screw 30 to enable it to be adjusted readily in the nut 3|.

The posts I!) may have one set of four bolts 40 placed at right angles to each other adjacent the upper end of the post and a corresponding set of fourbolts M placed adjacent the lower end of the post Ill. Suitable cross braces 43 and horizontal tie rods 45 connect adjacent T-posts and retain them in position,

As seen in Fig. 1, the crossbeam [2 of each T-post is equipped with a plurality of clips 41 which receive 2 x 4s, designated 48, to which the form work may be fastened. The 2 x 4s, are fixed in the clips 41 by nailing through holes in the sides of the clips.

Fig. 5 shows a ledger in which a second form of T-post is employed. The T-post 50 is similar to the T-post hereinbefore described except that its crossbeam 5| is approximately one quarter the length of the crossbeam l2, and because of the shortness of the crossbeam 5| no ties such as vincula l3 are required.

Fig. 5 shows a typical use of the T-posts as a adapted to engage within the interior of a second 5 ledger to pp a concrete Slab form, whereas Figs. 6 and 7 show the T-posts used individually to support a concrete beam form 55.

Having thus described the invention, it is realized that it is susceptible to Various changes and modifications, and it is not therefore desired to limit the invention to the precise form herein shown and described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention hereinbefore described is claimed as follows:

1. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected to the top of said post member, a second T-post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected to the top of said post member, and means to join one of said T-posts to the other T-post with the ledgers thereof axially alined.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post member, a horizontal ledger connected to the upper end of said post member and a connecting member fixed to one of said ledger, and a second T-post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected to the upper end; of said last named post member and engageable with said connecting member to join said T-posts with the ledgers axially alined.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post member, a horizontal ledger connected intermediate its ends to the upper end of said post member and diagonal braces connecting the outer ends of said ledger with said post at a point below the top thereof, a second T-post including a vertical the top thereof and a connecting member fixed to one end of said ledger, and a second T-post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected intermediate its ends to the top of said last named post member and engageable with said connecting member to joint the T-posts, with the ledgers axially alined.

5. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post member, a horizontal ledger connected to the upper end of said post member and a connecting member fixed to one end of said ledger, a second T- post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected to the upper end of said last named post member and engageable with said connecting member to join said T-posts with the ledgers axially alined, and means to lock said ledgers in coupled position.

-6. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post member, a horizontal ledger connected intermediate its ends to the upper end of said post member, diagonal braces connecting the outer ends of said ledger with said post member at a point below the top thereof and a connecting member fixed to one end of said ledger, a second T-post including a vertical post member and a horizontal ledger connected intermediate its ends to the top of said last, named post member and engageable with said connecting member to join the T-posts, with the ledgers axially alined, and means to lock said ledgers in coupled position.

7. A device of the character described comprising, a first T-post including a vertical post, a horizontal tubular ledger connected to the top of said post, a tubular member fitting within said ledger and secured therein with one end of the tubular member projecting from the ledger, a second T-post including a vertical post and a horizontal tubular ledger connected to the top of said post, said last named ledger being engageable over the projecting tubular member of said first ledger, and means to secure said second ledger on the tubular extension to form acontinuous ledger.

RAYMOND J. MOTHS. 

